Display hook



C O. LARSON Dec. 16, 1969 DI SPLAY HOOK Filed June 13, 1967 INVENTOR. CHARLES 0. LA PSO/V m/ M @W/ V @Z/ ATTZP/VEYS 3,483,995 DISPLAY HQOK Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, 111., assignor to Qlras. 0. Larson Co., Sterling, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 13, 1967, Ser. No. 645,301 lint. Cl. A47f 7/00 US. Cl. 211-57 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display hook for use on an upstanding Pegboard for supporting thereon carded displays each having a predetermined Support opening therein, the display hook comprising a base having a rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the associated Pegboard, at least one mounting prong integral with one edge of the base and extending outwardly therefrom for mounting the base on the associated Pegboard, an elongated arm integral with the other edge of the base extending outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to the prong for supporting a plurality of carded displays thereon, the arm being curved in cross section normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, the outer end of the arm being bent in the general direction of the base, the inner end of the arm having a greater width than the remainder of the arm and providing abutment shoulders spaced outwardly from the base, the portion of the arm disposed between the base and the shoulder being generally planar and having rigidifying side flanges on the edges extending in a direction away from the base, and a rigidifying rib on the arm extending from the base toward the shoulders.

This invention relates to display hooks for use on an upstanding Pe board having a plurality of holes arranged in cquidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical colurnns for supporting thereon carded displays each having a predetermined support opening therein.

One object of the invention is to provide a cantilever type display hook which may be inexpensively fabricated from a single sheet of metal or the like, but yet is strong enough to support a great plurality of carded displays thereon without distortion thereof and without distorting or damaging the associated Pegboard on the areas thereof adjacent to which the display hook is attached.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cantilever type display hook for use on a Pegboard panel, wherein the display hook is manufactured from a single piece of sheet metal or the like, and wherein the configuration of the display hook includes abutting shoulders thereon adapted to abut against the adjacent carded display to hold the upper ends of the carded displays away from the associated Pegboard, whereupon mounting the display hook on an inclined Pegboard, the carded displays carried thereby will be substantially vertically disposed.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a display hook for use on an upstanding Pegboard having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns for supporting thereon carded displays each having a predetermined support opening therein. The display hook comprises a base having a rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the associated Pegboard. At least one mounting prong integral with one edge of the base extends outwardly therefrom for mounting the base on the associated Pegboard. An elongated arm integral with the other edge of the base extends outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to the prong for supporting a plurality of carded displays thereon, the arm being curved in cross section normal to the longitudinal axis thereof and adapted to be nited States Patent 0 f 3,483,995 Patented Dec. 16, 1969 received in the predetermined support openings in the associated carded displays to support a plurality of carded displays thereon. The outer end of the arm is bent in the general direction of the base thereby to prevent accidental removal of the associated display cards carried by the arm. The inner end of the arm has a greater width than the remainder of the arm and provides abutment shoulders spaced outwardly from the base, the shoulders being adapted to abut against the adjacent carded display to hold the upper ends of the carded displays away from the associated Pegboard. The portion of the arm disposed between the base and the shoulders is generally planar and has rigidifying side flanges on the edges extending in a direction away from the base. A rigidifying rib is disposed on the arm extending from the base towards the shoulders.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the display hook, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a folding display having a plurality of display hooks embodying the present invention mounted thereon and illustrating some carded displays carried by some of the display hooks;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the display shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the position of one of the display hooks carrying carded displays thereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the display hooks embodying the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the display hook shown in FIG. 3, illustrating the display hook in a mounted position on a portion of an associated Pegboard;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the display hook shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the display hook taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5, illustrating the cross section of one portion thereof in greater detail; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the display hook taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, illustrating further cross sectional details thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is illustrated a folding display designated generally as 10. The folding display 10 includes two spaced-apart generally rectangular Pegboards 11, each having front and rear surfaces 12 and 13 respectively. Each of the Pegboards 11 is mounted on a pair of angle iron legs 14 disposed respectively adjacent the side edges thereof. The angle iron legs 14 adjacent the corresponding side edges are pivotally connected near the upper ends thereof, as at 15. A pair of links 16 is pivotally connected to each other at the inner ends thereof; the outer ends thereof being pivotally connected to the respective angle iron legs 14 adjacent the corresponding side edges, whereby the display 10 has an erected position as illustrated.

Each Pegboard 11 has a plurality of holes 17 arranged in equidistant spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns, the holes 17 therethrough being adapted to receive supporting prongs of various types of brackets or display hooks for attachment to the Pegboard. Also as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of carded displays 20, each having a predetermined support opening 21 therein, is carried on the display 10 by a number of display hooks 30, which display hooks 30. are of the type contemplated 3 by the present invention and are best illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5.

Each of the display hooks 30 is preferably stamped and formed from a single sheet of metal or the like, and each comprises a base 31 having a rear surface 32 adapted to bear against the face 12 of the associated Pegboard 11. A pair of mounting prongs 33 is formed integrally with one edge 34 of the base 31, and extend outwardly therefrom for mounting the base 31 on the associated Pegboard 11. As shown in the drawing, the prongs 33 are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between two adjacent openings 17 in the Pegboard 11, but it should be understood that a single prong 33 may be used, or that the base 31 may be further extended so that the prongs 33 thereon are spaced apart a distance equal to any multiple of the spacings between adjacent openings 17. Although the prongs 33 are shown on the top edge 34 of the base 31, it should be understood that they may also be formed along the side edges of the base.

Each of the prongs 33 comprises a relatively straight first leg element 35 having one end formed integrally with the top edge 34 of the base 31 and extending at right angles to the plane of the base 31. Each of the first leg elements 35 on the oppositely disposed prongs 33 is of suflicient length to extend completely through the openings 17 in the Pegboard, and thus the length of each of the first leg elements 35 is determined by the thickness of the Pegboard with which the display hook 30 is to be used. Normally, the thickness of the Pegboard will be at least one-quarter inch and the thickness of the material from which the display hook 30 is fabricated will be les than the thickness of the Pegboard with which it is used. A second leg element 36 is carried by the outer end of the first leg element 35. The second leg element 36 is disposed normal to the first leg element 35 and extends in the opposite direction to the base 31. The second leg element 36 comprises a front surface 37 that is substantially parallel to the plane of the base 31 and is offset with respect to the rear surface 32 of the base 31 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the Pegboard 11.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the upstanding second leg element 36 extends upwardly above the opening 17 a sufficient distance so that the flat surface 37 thereof may bear against the rear surface 13 of the Pegboard 11 after the prongs 33 have been inserted through the cooperating openings 17.

The display hook 30 further comprises an elongated arm designated generally as 40, integral with the other edge 38 of the base 31 and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to the prongs 33 for supporting a plurality of the carded displays 20 thereon. As best seen in FIGS. through 7, the major portion of the arm 40 is curved in cross section normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, as at 41, and is adapted to be received in the predetermined support openings in the associated carded displays 20 thereby to support a plurality of the carded displays thereon. The outer end of the arm 40 is bent in the general direction of the base 31, as shown at 42, thereby to prevent accidental removal of the associated display cards 20 when carried by the arm 40.

The inner end of the arm 40 has a greater width than the remainder of the arm and provides abutment shoulders 43 spaced outwardly from the base 31. When a plurality of the carded displays 20 is carried by the arm 40, the innermost carded display will abut the shoulders 43, whereby the shoulders 43 hold the upper ends of the carded displays away from the associated Pegboard 11, see FIG. 2. This is particularly useful when the support hook 30 is mounted on an inclined Pegboard, such as that provided by the folding display illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, whereby the upper ends of the carded 4 displays will be prevented from jamming up against the Pegboard.

The portion of the arm 40 disposed between the base 31 and the shoulders 43, indicated as 44, is generally planar and has rigidifying side flanges 45 on the respective edges thereof, which flanges 45 extend in a direction away from the base 31; the outer ends of the flanges 45 terminating at smooth junctures with the shoulders 43. A rigidifying rib 46 is centrally disposed on the portion 44 of the arm 40 and extends from the base 31 towards the shoulders 43.

As heretofore stated, the display hook 30 is formed of an integral piece of sheet metal. The side flanges 45 and the rib 46 provided on the arm 40 serve to increase the longitudinal rigidity of the arm 40, thereby to prevent deformation thereof when a plurality of the carded displays 20 is carried thereon. Furthermore, the force created by the weight of the carded displays supported by the display hook 30 of the present invention is transmitted to the Pegboard 11 at a plurality of surfaces having over all a very considerable area. A large portion of this force is transmitted to the face 12 of the Pegboard 11 by the rear surface 32 of the base 31, which bears upon that face. The remainder of the force is transmitted to the rear surface 13 of the Pegboard 11 by the upstanding second leg elements 36, wherein the surfaces 37 thereof are adapted to bear against the rear surface 13 of the Pegboard 11.

The display hook 30 may be removed from the Pegboard 11 by merely pivoting the base 31 upwardly until the normally upstanding second leg elements 36 of the prongs 33 are substantially parallel to the axes of the openings 17, whereupon the display hook may be withdrawn from the Pegboard. The display hook 30 may then be relocated at any desired position on the Pegboard by first inserting the second leg elements 36 into a pair of openings 17 at the desired location and then pivoting the base 31 downwardly to bring the rear surface 32 thereof into contact with the face of the Pegboard. In this latter position, the display hook is firmly and securely carried by the Pegboard and is ready to receive the carded displays thereon.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A display hook for use on an upstanding Pegboard having a plurality of holes arranged in equidistantly spaced horizontal rows and vertical columns for supporting thereon carded displays each having a predetermined support opening therein, said display hook comprising a base having a rear surface adapted to bear against the face of the associated Pegboard, at least one mounting prong integral with one edge of said base and extending outwardly therefrom for mounting said base on the associated Pegboard, an elongated arm integral with the other edge of said base extending outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to said prong for supporting a plurality of carded displays thereon, said arm being curved in cross section normal to the longitudinal axis thereof in a direction away from said base and adapted to be received in the predetermined support openings in the associated carded displays to support a plurality of the carded displays thereon, the outer end of said arm being bent in the general direction of said base thereby to prevent accidental removal of the associated carded displays carried by said arm, the inner end of said arm having a greater width than the remainder of said arm and providing abutment shoulders spaced outwardly from said base, said shoulders abutting against the adjacent carded display to hold the upper ends of the carded displays away from the associated Pegboard, the portion of said arm disposed between said base and said shoulders being generally planar and having rigidifying side flanges on the edges thereof and extending in a direction away from said base, and a rigidifying rib on said arm extending from said base toward said shoulders.

2. The display hook set forth in claim 1, wherein said display hook is of unitary sheet metal construction.

3. The display hook set forth in claim 1, wherein said arm is disposed substantially normal to said base.

4. The display hook set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting prong comprises a first leg element integral with said one edge of said base and extending outwardly 10 therefrom, said first leg element being disposed substantially normal to said base and having a length substantially equal to the thickness of an associated Pegboard, and a second leg element carried by the outer end of said first leg element and disposed normal thereto and extending in the opposite direction to said base, whereby said prong is insertible through an opening in said Pegboard with said first leg element thereof being adapted normally to rest on the associated Pegboard Within the opening so as to support said base thereon with the second leg element thereof being adapted to bear against the rear surface of the associated Pegboard to prevent withdrawal of said prong from the opening while said base is disposed thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,302 2/1914 Kobert 24870 XR 2,913,210 11/1959 Tichnor 248-223 2,943,835 7/1960 Tierney 2482l6 FOREIGN PATENTS 710,030 6/1954 Great Britain. 929,047 6/ 1963 Great Britain.

5 ROY D. FMZIER, Primary Examiner R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

